^42 
Supplement to the “ Tropical Agriculturist.' 
[April I, 1891. 
from the -working out of its geological structure — 
that is, from the knowledge obtained of its 
rocks and of their relation to each other. The 
phenomena of springs and the sources of supply to 
artesian wells are so entirely dependent on strati- 
graphical and physical features, that an acquain- 
tance with their principals cannot fail to be of 
use to the student of field geology 
It follows that when all the condition of dip, 
permeability and continuity are known, it be- 
comes a matter not of speculation but of certainty 
to estimate the depth at which water will be 
found, and the height to which it will rise in a 
well." 
With rumours of a geological survey and of 
artesian wells, the despondent agriculturists of 
our drought-stricken districts may well gain a 
little courage ! 
— 
OCCASIONAL NOTES. 
A correspondent writes with reference to the 
yield of Arekanuts: — Now that attention has been 
called by you to the cultivation of arekanuts, and 
a question raised as to the income derivable from 
this product, it may be interesting to you and 
your readers to know that 50 cents per tree is by 
no means a high average — that is to say where it 
is cultivated as it should be. The safer valu- 
ation of 25 cents per tree, to which some well- 
informed people would incline, may be based oii 
the experience gained by natives from the pro- 
duce of their arambas or groves. But then these 
arambus are invariably planted so closely, that 
the plants do not get sufficient feeding ground 
and sunlight. The consequence is that they get 
attenuated, reaching a great height and yielding 
individually but a small crop. Let the plant 
stand 12 feet apart between the rows and far 
enough in the lines to enable the pluckers to go 
from one tree to another without descending and 
thus making the harvesting of the crop an expen- 
sive work, and it will be found that the plants 
in ordinarily favourable situations, will come into 
bearing so early as at 5 years, and that they will 
yield more than twice the crop obtained by the 
natives, who plant them among jak, kitul and 
other such garden products, along Avith which the 
areka has to share the enjoyment of sunlight and 
soil. I have counted up to 300 nuts in a bunch, 
though, I am told, a maximum of 500 may be 
reached. The price of arekanuts is about from 
75 cents to a rupee per 1000, and you should not 
think it too much to expect from 500 to 1000 nuts 
to a whole year’s crop. However, if you obtained 
only 25 cents per tree, still, with 600 or 700 trees 
to the acre, it will be no mean product. 
The Kew Bulletin for February contains a note 
on Kath or Pale Cutch. This substance also 
known as Pale Catechu is prepared from acacia 
catechu, and is to be distinguished from cutch or 
catechu, and from gambier which is sometimes 
called I'ale Gutoclui. Pale cutcl) is the substance 
used all over India and in Ceylon for mixing 
with betel leaves &c. for chewing puiqmses, and 
i. s known in Sinhalese as (Jaypoo. Catechu is 
ii. «ed in medicine, es])ccially Veterinary medicine, 
ns an astringent, and the catechu of Biirmah (j)oor 
in catcchin) is exported to Europe as a dye stuff. 
Pale catechu or Kath when pure consists chiefly 
of catechin, a chrystallising substance nearly 
insoluble in cold water, and which must not be 
brought in contact with iron. Its preparation is 
a long and tedious ijrocess, as the extract got 
from boiling the wood-shavings of acacia 
catechu has to be brought to a high degree of con- 
centration and left to stand for a long time, till 
the catechu is got to chrystallise out of the 
catechu tannin, with which it is found mixed. 
The preparation of the dark catechu which con- 
sists chiefly of catechu tannin, is a much simpler 
process, and is merely a boiling down of a watery 
extract of the wood of A. Catechu and A. 8uma. 
Pale catechu or Kath and Gambier have been 
pointed out by Fliickiger and Hanbury to agree 
in composition, both consisting mainly of catechin 
(Catechucic acid). As Pale catechu so closely 
agrees with gambier, which is now in great 
demand, it is surjArising, thinks the Kew Bulletin, 
that it is not exported to Europe, where it would 
be readily accepted by the dyers as a substitute. 
The word Catechu is considered by some writers 
to be a modern Latin derivative from the 
South Indian name Kachu, and that from South 
India the product was first exported ; while others 
derive it from the Cochin Chinese word Caycan, 
which is no doubt connected with the Sinhalese 
Caypoo. The Sanscrit authors mention the drug, 
and Barbosa in 1514 notices what is in all proba- 
bility is this drug under the name of Cache. 
It is interesting and sometimes amusing to 
read the opinions of old writers on Ceylon re- 
garding the agricultural capabilities of the Island. 
Sir Samuel Baker, like the promoters of the late 
Model Farm at Colombo, committed a huge mistake 
when he attempted to start farming in Ceylon 
upon the lines he choose to work on, and in both 
cases the projects resulted in signal failures. 
No doubt Sir Samuel wrote with a prejudiced 
mind when he condemned in s\ich general and 
emphatic terms the soils of Ceylon, for their 
extreme poverty. In his book entitled “Wander- 
ings in Ceylon” there are, however, observations 
and suggestions which prove that the author had 
evidently carefully examined into the needs, and 
considered the means of improvement of the 
natives of the Island. He refers to Mr. Thurston’s 
Industrial School in the Cinnamon Gardens of 
Colombo, on the site now occupied by the School 
of Agriculture, and suggests that the Government 
should develop the plan upon which that establish- 
ment was worked, so as to bring an agricultural 
and technical education within the reach of the 
masses, and specially advices that an improved 
system of cultitmtion should be introduced to 
the natives, and that new products should be 
brought to their notice. So far as the suggestions 
referring to agricultural education are concerned, 
Sir Samuel Baker’s advice has been acted upon, 
while there is also a move to give effect to his 
suggestions regarding technical education. It 
is not of course to be considered that these 
results have been brought about by Sir Samuel 
Baker’s work, but it must be admitted that the 
author had studied the condition and require- 
ments of the people of Ceylon, at a time when 
few — the Government excluded — were sensible to 
the fact that there was a reform to be worked, 
which remaiuod for Mr. II, W. Green to initiate. 
